How to Create a Repository in Bitbucket Using Git Bash?

Bitbucket is a powerful platform for hosting Git repositories, offering great tools for collaborative development. This blog provides a step-by-step guide to creating a new Bitbucket repository using Git Bash. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to initialize and link a local Git repository to Bitbucket directly from the terminal.

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Prerequisites

1. Git Installed: Ensure Git is installed on your system. Run git --version to verify.
2. Bitbucket Account: You’ll need a Bitbucket account. If you don’t have one, sign up at bitbucket.org.
3. Git Bash: Install Git Bash if you’re on Windows for a Unix-like command-line experience.

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Step 1: Open Git Bash

Start by opening Git Bash, as it provides the command-line interface needed to run Git commands.

Step 2: Create a New Directory for Your Project (Optional)

If you haven’t already created a project directory, do so now:

mkdir project-name
cd project-name

Replace project-name with the name of your project. Once inside this directory, you’re ready to initialize a Git repository.

Step 3: Initialize a Local Git Repository

To initialize a local Git repository in your project directory, run:

git init

This command creates a new Git repository in the current directory, allowing you to start tracking files and making commits.

Step 4: Create a Repository in Bitbucket

1. Log in to Bitbucket: Open your web browser and log in to your Bitbucket account.
2. Create New Repository:
   • Navigate to Repositories > Create Repository.
   • Fill in the repository details such as Repository Name and Project Name.
   • Choose Git as the repository type and make any desired settings (e.g., visibility as private or public).
   • Click Create repository to finish.

Bitbucket will now display your new repository along with instructions for setting it up. You’ll need the repository’s remote URL to link it to your local repository in Git Bash.

Step 5: Link Your Local Repository to Bitbucket

Back in Git Bash, add the remote Bitbucket repository to your local repository using the following command:

git remote add origin <bitbucket-repo-url>

Replace <bitbucket-repo-url> with the URL provided by Bitbucket (typically in the format https://[email protected]/username/repository-name.git).

To verify that the remote repository was added correctly, run:

git remote -v

This will list the repository URL associated with origin, confirming the connection to Bitbucket.

Step 6: Add and Commit Files

Now, add any files you want to include in the initial commit. Run the following commands to add all files and make an initial commit:

git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"

The git add . command stages all changes, while git commit -m "Initial commit" creates the first commit with a message.

Step 7: Push Your Code to Bitbucket

Push your code to the Bitbucket repository by running:

git push -u origin main

Note: If your default branch is master, replace main with master in the command above.

This command uploads your changes to Bitbucket. The -u flag sets origin main as the default for future pushes, so you won’t need to specify the branch next time.

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Summary

Creating a Bitbucket repository via Git Bash offers the convenience of managing your repositories without leaving the terminal. By following the steps in this guide, you’ve successfully initialized a local Git repository, connected it to Bitbucket, and pushed your code. This setup is now ready for collaborative development, letting you and your team efficiently work together.